High School

If the umbilical cord is wrapped around the baby's neck during an imminent childbirth, you should take which of the following courses of action as the officer in charge?

A. Immediately notify EMS and transport the mother to the hospital.
B. Relieve pressure on the cord and use two fingers to pull the cord off of the neck.
C. Adjust the baby's position inside the womb.

Answer :

Final answer:

In the event of the umbilical cord being wrapped around the baby's neck during childbirth, the officer in charge should immediately notify EMS, ensure the mother is transported to a hospital, possibly relieve pressure on the cord if trained to do so, and avoid adjusting the baby's position unless medically qualified.

Explanation:

If an umbilical cord is wrapped around a baby's neck during childbirth which is an emergency known as a nuchal cord, the correct course of action for the officer in charge would be to follow established emergency procedures. This typically involves the following steps:

  1. Immediately notify EMS and arrange for expedited transport of the mother to the hospital. This step ensures that medical professionals can provide the necessary care for both mother and child.
  2. If trained to do so, the officer in charge might need to relieve pressure on the cord without attempting to unravel it due to the risk of tightening it further or causing harm. The use of two fingers to create space between the cord and the baby's neck can be done gently, but only if one is trained and confident in performing such a procedure.
  3. Adjusting the baby's position within the womb (intrauterine resuscitation) is generally the work of medical professionals and should not be attempted by someone without medical training.

Overall, the primary focus should be on getting medical attention as soon as possible. While waiting for medical professionals, ensure that any intervention is safe and within the scope of the officer's training and competency.